Elegy for an Egg

Like blood pulsing through veins, this mesmerising mosaic – made from three repeating images – reveals a form of malaria parasite found in mosquitoes.

Each image represents a single female parasite egg, highlighting its DNA seen in cyan and two proteins that exist on its surface, shown in magenta and yellow. These proteins are essential for the Plasmodium falciparum parasite’s fertility. Without them, the malaria parasite cannot be passed on when a mosquito bites.

Researchers are studying these proteins as potential targets for a vaccine that could stop the spread of the parasite, by striking at its most vulnerable points.

Malaria remains a major global health threat, causing around 600,000 deaths each year. Children under five are especially vulnerable – a child dies from malaria every minute.

Artist

• Jill Chmielewski